Attornx



P 1952 D. A. SIRACUSA Re. 23,557

FISHING TOOL Original Filed on. 2, 1945 2 sm'rs-m'r 2 INVENTOR film/r5 A. .572Acus4,

ATTORNEY Reissued Sept. 30, 1952 Original No. 2,553,985, dated May 22, 1951, Serial No. 619,776, October 2,1945. Application for reissue November 1, 1951, Serial No. 254,217

moi-aims. (o1. sec-102) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: appears in the original patent but forms no matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

reissue specification;

This invention relates to' fishing tools and is particularly directed to a fishing tool of the oversho't type adapted to be lowered into a well for the purpose of retrieving tubular or cylindrical objects such as drill pipe, drill stem, sucker rods, tools, etc, which may be lodged in the well. In all well drilling operations the possibility exists that a piece of drill pipe, drill stem, well string, macaroni, tubing or other tool or portion of the drilling string may either be dropped into the well or become loose, broken off, or otherwise left in the hole. It is necessary to remove such b- .iects (generally called fish-") in order to continue drilling operations or permit the well to be placed on production. The cost of drilling a Well precludes the possibility of abandoning the hole and starting a new one. Itis important, therefore, that suitable fishing tools be provided capable of being used at great depths below the surface for. the purpose of positively and tenaciously grasping the fish. 1 I

A string of drilling tools may include drill pipe, upsets, drill stems, tool joints, drill collars, etc. The component parts of a single string may vary in diameter very appreciably. For example, a l drill pipe may carry an external upset section of 5 /8", tool joints of 6%" and a 7" drill collar (all outside diameters). Very often the dlameter of the fish which is to be grasped is not known. A break may have occurred just above an upset or in close proximity to a tool joint. For this reason the fishing tool should be able to accommodate a variety of sizes of objects to be grasped in order to expedite the fishing operation.

Moreover. the fishing tool should be simple and positive in its operation and of short length. It should be capable of grasping a-fish easily and holdingit firmly so that tools buried or pinched by a cave-in can be pulled out of the hole. It should also be arranged to release or disengage a fish when conditions make this necessary, and such release should be accomplished without the danger of parting the drill pipe at a point above the tool. I

These requirements have not been met by fishing tools. devised heretofore but are believed to be completely fulfilled by the device of the present invention.

Generally stated, this invention relates to a fishing tool of relatively short length and of" simple construction so that it is positive and substantially fool-proof in its operation. The tool described hereinafter consists of a tubular body [portion provided with tapered inner sections, each part of this of such sections including a tubular gripping sleeve of C form, at least one edge of such sleeve cooperating With a key or anchor Within the body portion. When this tool is lowered-into a well over a fish, the sleeve expands radially, one of the longitudinal edges of the sleeve being prevented i'rom maintaining a uniform spacing with the other edge of the sleeve by reason o-f-the anchor. In this manner the sleeve encircles the fish. and when an upward pull is exerted through the tubular body portion, the tapered 'innerl surfaces of the body portion effect contraction ofthe sleeve about the-fish.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to disclose and provide a. simple and eflicient fishing tool of the overshot type. I

Another object of the invention is to disclose and provide a fishing tool which is of short length and which is capable of firmly grasping-objects of different diameters, so that a single tool may accommodate a variety of objects. I

A further object of the inventionis to provide a fishing tool of novel and simple construction in which all of the component parts are firmly retained within the tool and are caused to operate automatically. p

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fishing tool which does not employ slips but instead exerts a contractile grasping action around virtually the entire circumference-of the fish being'grasped- These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of exemplary forms of devices. embodying the invention. In order'to facilitate understanding, reference will be had to the appended drawings, in which:

:Fig. 1 isa longitudinal elevational view of the device being lowered into a well hole over a fish.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a simplified form of device, said section corresponding to a plane along II--II in Fig. 4. v "Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken along the plane IIIIII in Fig. 4. i

. Fig.4 is a transverse section taken along the "plane IV-IV in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken along the plane V-'V in Fig. 2.. i

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of device.

Fig. 7 is a transverse plane VIIVII in Fig. 6. Fig. 1 shows a simplified form of fishing tool embodying this invention, indicated at I0, being section taken along the lowered into a well hole by the drill pipe I l The of the view.

rotation of the sleeve to correspond to the body of the tool is connected to the drill pipe by means of a top sub l2. The lower end of the tubular body, portion i the tool-is providedwith a nose pieceor shoe l3; A piece" dflpartedlpiple. which constitutes the fish is shown in the bottom Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged views the construction tool. As there indicated, the tubular body por; tion I!) is provided v wardly tapered, conical, separate, innei suriace sections indicated at 2 and} H H V pandable gripping sleeve is positioned withihe'ach' of these tapered sections. Gripping sleeve V4 is P T9 9d Wi hb long q el .5l9 a t .1 cei've an anchor or l iey Q carriedwit r i 'the'b6dyand cooperating with the longitudinal edgesklo'f the sleeve 4 so as topreyent free, unrestricted within the body. The lower of the anchor or keyi maybe providedwith atop which is received within a socketi for dj a collar] which'isheld in place below r no's't taper 3 by the nd's'e'piecell 3.. Addie tigna lding'means, such asa setscrew, pin or their e; may also be used to hold the key in place.

r i epeer end of the anchor is. provided with mem s face and abuts theoutwardlyand up r uy ingfineq facel2 or lip.l2. of sub l2, iba ia ie v. limiting the-longitudinalmovementIof the gripping sleeye 4 within the upper tapered section of the ubulr body portiohof the tool...

The sleeve 4 has a virtually cylindrictiliriterigr prinner surface which is normally. smaller than; the inter'nal{ diameter or the-body portion or the int rnal dia' "eter'oLthe-retaihing collar I, This: ternal. face of the-grippingsleeve A is preferably provided with helicallyrarranged gripping teeth 8 said teeth presenting. substanr tiall at upper surfaces by meansof which a iishl be grasped and pulled upwardly- The exteri surface of the sleeve 4, or at least a portion of such-exterior surface, is taperedsoasto correspond to the tapered surface 2 whereby the sleeve ,4 may move longitudinally withinthe. taper-ed 's'ection of the body portion, upward movement being restricted by the stop element or iii) l2. The upper edge of the sleeve may beprovided with a dished end face 9 adapted to en'- gage the tapered end iace l2 of the lip.

The lgey 5 is shown dovetailedlFig. 4) and pre f er blflwhn the gripping sleeve 4 is-at the bottcmpi its limited travel (as shcwnin Fig. 2), the edges 14 and 15 of the gfr-ipping sleevepmtime inwardly s hi b f q e e entrally directed; longitudinally extendr face of the anchor or key 5.1 c

- It-w readily inserted "from the upper endoi the tubular body of the tool around th' arihor. 5, Some difliculty, however, wouldflbe experienced. in. inserting the lower, radially expandable sleeve 16 and for this reason- 0; a plurality of sections arrangedto provide a virtually -cy1indrical-innen surface. normally smaller than the interior diameter or thebody portion or the external diameter of the fish to e r p v As -bestshown. iniFigu5, the gripping sleeve l6 may be composed of threeor four sections [1, 18, I9; and 20', two longitudinal edgesot such assembled sleeve cooperatingwith .the'. anchor 5, .npora ps, of. this simple form of fishing with two upwardly and one AT rauisn e?? 'ctin g as a removable meansior prdvidedwitlia tool isgloweredrover the fish and l beevidnt thattheslevel l be the sleevemifi is composed ti'o'n of the outer suriac'eof suchsleeve is tapered taper 3 formed on the in- 4 ternal suriace oi the body portion and in order to maintain these sections l|-20 in substantially cylindrical for m, and causethem to operate as af,uriit;f;t ojitei surfacepf suchsections may be provided with a dovetailed groove, indicated at 22, such groove being adapted to slidably receive alongth of flexible, resilient metal band 23 whibhthereby joins the various sections together. Erom.,the.description given, it will be evident that the device may be lowered into the well so agt 'strsddle thefish. The device may, of course, employ various types of nose pieces i3. A shoe cutting edge or teeth out on the lowen.end, v may also be employed for the purpose or" reinhvihg burrs or splinters, which may extend irmithe: fish, cAtalli events, the fishing rotated. Contact of the gripping sleeves 4 and "5 with the fish, coupled with the fotation of the tool, will cause the sleeye to extend radially, one edge, such asiheedse I 4,,peing restrained from rotation with respect to the bgdy. by the anchor 5 while the othenedge i5 maymbve away from the anchor As previews1y, pointed out, the edges [4 and I5 oi eaehgrippingrsleeve extend inwardly above the suriagee of .anchorwi and therefore an edge such as l4. i s frfee tceng'agefhe fish so that rotatiqn otthetgol; willcausethe resilient sleeve toradially egipand Suchradial expansion of the gripping sleeves is,acco panied by an upward movement-pi thesleeveslwithini the tapered sections of ,the =body,portion,, such upward movement being li ted, b y the stop means such as the shoulder, I22, 31' the shoulder 24 (which separates thertwo ,tapered sections 2 and 3). V t lstraddlttsi, flsh whichcontacts gripping sleev such sleeve will move'upwardly until end fl contactsgtaper l2". .Downward pressure, of the; tool, against the fish and sleeve 4 is thus caused to eiipand sleeve 4 by cooperative acagainst end 9. Prior to contact aper I21 the, expansion of the Q-shaped r entsleeve 4,was dueto the rotationeottb e toolwith respect to the fish. ehiter the hasebeen caused to extend into thetool a; desired-distance, rotation is disconti ned andthe drill pipe 1 I is raised. The gripping,sleeves 4 and l6 thereupon are efiectively contracted,aboiltthefish by reason of the tapers on ,the internal surface of the body and the external ll1ffiaqe ,pf thB gripping sleeves. The fish may, thereupon be pulled out of the hole. If for some reason it ,is necessaryto release the fish, the drill stem H and the tool may be bumped down gas by o.wering the weight of the stem upon. thefishi and, then rotated in the same or normal, direction and simultaneously lifted, therebyflcausin lthe teeth fl to release their grip from the iflsh, such ,releasing, action being, facilitated by. the-..lei,t handshelix ,oi, thelteeth on the gripping. 'sleeves.,, nlthough normal rotation of the stern is..,,u sual,ly employed in releasing the fish (this preventing accidental unscrewing of joints in the stem ll), under some circumstances a reversecrotation maymbe desirable, and the tool willrele a's thefish when such reverse rotation is, -qmpl0ltBd,--.t l :by exhibiting a facility not possessed by other tools.

The,,deyice..-i1lustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 shows ibpinecsleeves which are smaller than the exterlnahdiameter ofsthe cbject to be grasped but preferably employed, such tool being provided with a plurality of gripping sleeves of different diameters, such compound tool being capable of grasping objects whichmay be of any diameter within the limits of the tool.

Figs. 6 and, 7 refer to a multiple type of. tool and as there shown the drill pipe H is attached by means of the collar l2 to a fishingtocl which may be madeof tubular, interlocking, body portions 3|, 32, and 33, the lowermost bodyportion being provided with a nose piece 34. Each-pf these tubular body portions is provided with one or more upwardly and outwardly taperedzinner surface sections aspreviously described in connection with Figs. 2 110 4. I

The radially expa-ndablegripping sleeve; 35 may be similar in construction-to. the gripping-sleeve 4, whereas the gripping sleeve 36 -maybesimilar to the gripping sleeve l6. The anchoig onkeyjl may be similar to the key '5 but the-lower endof such key 31 may now be retained or held within a cavity or recess formed in a milling ring 38 held between opposing shoulders of the adjacent tubular sections 3| and 32. The lower edge-of the milling ring 38 is providedwith suitable teeth 39 adapted to remove burrs from outer edges of fish,

It will be noted that very often, when a string breaks during drilling, the break is not immediately apprehended by the operator and drilling or rotation continues for some minutes so that the upper end of the fish is mushroomed, distorted, and expanded. Milling teeth, such .as carried by the ring 38, effectively remove the out wardly extending burrs from the upper end .of the .fish and facilitate the penetration. of the fishing tool by the fish. I

The tubular section .32 is alsoprovided with a tapered inner surface 40 and aradially ex tendable gripping sleeve 4!. The key 37 may extend through the slot in the gripping sleeve 4| and through a slot formed in the outer wall of the milling sleeve 38. Inasmuch asv the tubular sections 3! and 32 are fastened together as .at 42, the gripping sleeve 41 -may be of one piece and similar to sleeve 4. The inner diameter of: the gripping sleeve 4| is somewhat largenfhowever, than the diameter of thes'leeves 35 and 36 Between the body portion .33 and the tubular body portion '32 there may be positioneda'milling sleeve or ring 43, such ring being recessedas at 44 to receive the lower end of the key or anchor 31. The milling sleeve 4.3 maybe retained between a shoulder formed in the tubular portion 32 and a hardened retaining ring 45 carried. by the tubular portion'33. Ring 45 and the milling Below these two gripping sleeves thetubular' section .33-'-may carryla ringil also provided with a flexible ,p'ackingdevice 52. Such milling ring .51 jmayicarry means. cooperating with ,the .key .53 for holding such .key in position. If desired, the. inwardly extending flange ,50 may also be provided with. a recess adapted to receive the end,of;key- 53 .,r I l y it is to be understood that suitable pins,.lock ing-screws or splineslmay. be used in holding .the various 'body sections .toge'ther aiter they are assembled, and similarlocking means may be used in preventing rotation of the milling rings 38, 43,.and 5I within the tubular body sections.

M lt willbe evident toflthose skilled-inthe art that the .deviceillustrated 6 may be lowered into a well over. a. fish fend such fish may be of an unknown, diameter but the. .tool will receive and .tena'ciou'sly'grasp and holdthe .fish. The internal diameterof the lowermost rings 48 and 43 is vlarger,than the grasping ring'4l which, in turn, i'sfof larger internal diameter than the sleeves 3.5v and 3E. The tool, therefore, is capable of ,grasping objects within the'extensive range ring assist in centering and guiding a fish from the lower portion 33 into the'upper portions 32 and 3| of the tool. As clearly shown in the drawings, a ring 46 carried by the milling ring 43 has a flexible, inwardly and upwardly extending portion which acts as a packing against a fish and permits circulation tofbe established from drill pipe ll directly into and through the fish. The lower edge of the milling'ring 43 is provided with suitable milling teeth'for the pur-- pose of removing burrs in the same manner as the upper ring 38. v The'lowersection 33 of the tool carriesradially extendable rings 48 and 49 and since thgupper portion of the tubular body 33 is provided with an inwardlyextending shoulder Ell which acts as .a stop means for limiting the upward travel of gripping sleeve 43, both of the gripping sleeves 48 and 49 are of the segmental constructionreferredto in connection with gripping sleeve I3. r

of all of ;.the.rings. If a relatively small diameter fish isencounteredPsuchfish willbe grasped .by the .uppergripping sleeves 35 and .33. In the event thefish is of largediameter, it. will be grasped by the .larger gripping sleeves 48 and 49.

Itis to. be noted that the various sleeves are closely adjacent so that the, total length of this multiple tool is relatively short... iIn some instances'. the fish carries alsplitlco'llar ora broken external upset at its upper end, the length of this enlarged end portion of the fish being smaller thanthe distance separating grippings rings 4 and [6, for .example' Means have'been provided,

betweengrlpping sleeves of, different diameters, for. removing burrs and smoothing the upper edges of, the fish for positive engagement with the gripping. sleeves and for guiding the fish. In actual practice .it has been found that the tool herein described is readily manufactured and positive. and foolproof in its operation.

{The invention-is not to be limited to the use of any particular type of anchor, to the use of milling rings in thespecific manner illustrated. nor to the use of the packing means. One .or more grippingsleeves maybe embodied in a tool and the exemplary forms described are merely illustrative and not limiting. The keys or anchors 5, 31,53 .etc., maybe integral with the tubular body, or may be welded to or be integral with one edge of thegripping sleeve. Instead .of helical teeth, the resilient sleeves may be prov'ided with a knurled gripping surface. All changes coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

l. A tool for grasping an object in a deep well comprising: a rigid tubular body portion provided with an upwardly and outwardly tapered, conical inner surface section; a radially expandable, resilient, C-shaped gripping sleeve within the tapered section .of the body portion, said sleeve the. body portion andan exterior tapered surface corresponding to the tapered section of the body portion; means *for limiting longitudinal movement of the sleeve within the body portion; and a-stationary anchor positioned within the body cooperating with one longitudinal edge of the sleeve to restrain such edge from rotation within the body, the other longitudinal edge of the sleeve extending inwardly, to beyond the centrally facing, longitudinally extending face of the anchor to engage an object to be grasped, and arranged to'be moved'in a tangential, outward direction when the tool is rotated in either direc-,

tion and lowered over the object to be grasped,

said tapers effecting contraction of the sleeve body, and a pair of spaced longitudinal edges;

said sleeve being arranged to provide a virtually circular inner surface normally smaller in diam eter than the internal diameter of the body portion and an exterior surface corresponding to the tapered section of the body portion; a stationary anchor positioned within the body and immovable with respect thereto, said anchor cooperating alternatively with one of the longitudinal edges of the sleeve to restrain such edge from rotation within the body, the spaced longitudinal edges of the sleeve extending inwardly above the centrally directed, longitudinally ex,- tendin face of the anchor topermit one edge to be restrained from rotation by cooperation with the anchor, while the other edge'engages an object being grasped and to cause said sleeve to expand radially when the body is rotated with respect to the object in either direction; said tapers effecting contraction of the sleeve about an engaged object when the body section-is moved upwardly with respect to the sleeve.

3. In a fishing tool: a rigid tubular body portion provided with an upwardly and outwardly tapered, inner, circumferential surface section extending between spaced planes perpendicular to the axis of such body; a radially expandable, resilient, C-shaped, gripping sleeve within the tapered section of the body portion, said sleeve having upper and lower edges in substantially parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of the body, and a pair of spaced longitudinal edges;

said sleeve being composed of a plurality of adjacent sections and arranged to provide a virtually circular inner surface normally smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the body portion and an exterior surface corresponding to the tapered section of the body portion; a stationary anchor positioned within the body and immovable with respect thereto, said anchorcooperating alternatively with one of the longitudinal edges of the sleeve torestrain such edge from rotation within the body, the spaced longitudinal edges of the sleeve extending inwardly above the centrally directed, longitudinally extending face of the anchor to permit one edge to be restrained from rotation by cooperation with the anchor, while the other edge engages an object being grasped and tocause said sleeve to expand radially when the body is rotated with respect to the object in either direction; said tapers eiiecting contraction of the sleeve about an engaged object when the body section is moved upwardly with respect to the sleeve.

4. A fishing tool of the character stated in claim 3, wherein the sections of the sleeve are removably connected together to act as aunit within the body portion.

5. A fishing tool of the character stated in 'claim 3, wherein the exterior tapered surface of the sleeve sections is provided with an undercut groove, and a resilient metal band extends through said groove and connects the'sections together. I

6. In a fishing tool: a rigid, tubular body portion including a gripping means movably carried by the inner surface of the body portion; a. collar positioned within the body portion below said gripping means, a recess formed in the edge of the collar andya key having its lower portion in the recess, said key extending upwardly into operative contact with the grippin means.

7. In a fishing tool: a rigid,tubu1ar body por tion including a grippingmeans movably carried by the inner surface of the body portion; a collar positioned within the body portion below said gripping means, a. recess formed in the edge of the collar, a key having its lower portion in the recess,

- said key extending upwardly into operative contact with the gripping means, and a flexible inwardly extending packing member carried by said collar.

' 8. An overshot adapted to telescope'ovcr an object to be withdrawn from a well and comprising, a tubular bowl adapted to be connected to an operating string of pipe and having an inside downwardly converging, tapering seat and an annular inside recess beneath the seat, said bowl also having an inside longitudinal keg/way, a tubular expwnsible grapple in the bowl having a longitudinal side slot and an ewternal downwardly tapering face to conform to the contour of, and to rest on said seat, a controlling member in said recess including a key seated in the keg way and extended into said side slot. v

9. An overshot adapted to telescope over an obgiect stuck in a well and comprising, a tubular bowl adapted to be connected to an operating string of pipe and having an inside downwardly converging, tapering seat and an annular groove at the upper end of the seat, a tubular empanstble grapple in the bowl having an external downw rdly tapering face shaped to conform to the contour of, and to rest on, said seat and terminating at its upper end in an annular edge arranged to engage in said groove upon relative tspward movement of the grapple in the bowl to expa'nd the grapple, a, controlling'member in the bowl beneath the seat which includes d vertical key engageable with the bowl and grapple to prevent rotation of the grapple in the bowl and spiralled wiclcers, or teeth, on the inside of the grapple engageable with th stuck object.

10; An oversho-t adapted to telescope over an object to be withdrawn from a well comprising, a tubular bowl adapted to be connected to an operating string of pipe and having an inside, downwardly converging seat and a recess beneath the seat, said bowl also having an inside keywa'y, a tubular expansible grapple in the bowl having a longitudinal side slot and an external downward- 1y tapering face to conform to the contour of and to rest upon said seat, a member seated in the recess and including a key which projects into the keg/way and into the side slot.

11. An oversho-t adapted to telescope over an object stuck in a well bore and comprising, a

tubular body having a downwardly converging, inside seat, a grapple on the seat adapted to engage about a stack object, an annular controlling member seated in the body beneath the seat, an inside annular seal in the controlling member to form a seal with the stuck object, said controlling member being inter-connected with the grapple and body to retain said parts against relative rotation. I

12. An overshot adapted to telescope over an object stuck in a well bore and comprising, a tubular body having a downwardly converging, inside seat, a grapple on the seat adapted to engage about a stack object, an annular controlling member seated in the body beneath the seat, an inside annular seal in the controllingmember to form a seal with the stack object, said controlling member being interconnected with th grapple and body to retain said parts against relative rotation and an annular retaining ring cooperating with said grapple controlling member and the body.

13. An overshot adapted to telescope over an object stuck in a well and comprising, a tubular body having an inside, downwardly converging seat, a grapple on the seat adapted to engage the stuck object, an annular grapple controlling member seated in the body beneath the seat, said grapple being slidably but nonrotatably engaged with the controlling member, a seal ring in said controlling member adapted to form a seal with the stack object, an annular series of reaming cutters on the controlling member and a retaining 10 ring cooperating with the controlling member and body.

14. An overs-hot adapted to telescope over an object stuck in a well bore, comprising: a rigid tubular body having a downwardly converging, conical inside seat, a radially expandable resilient, C-shaped grapple vertically movable on said seat, said grapple having a pair of vertical, longitudinally spaced edges, a controlling key member carried by the body and adapted to inter-engage an edge of the grapple to limit rotation of the grapple relative to the body; an annular milling sleeve seated in the body below the grapple, and g retaining ring cooperating with the sleeve and ody.

DANTE A. SIRACUSA REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,493,234 Benson May 6, 1924 1,526,741 Caflloux et a1 Feb. 17, 1925 1,529,734 Barbour et a1 Mar. 17, 1925 1,660,449 Kinney Feb. 28, 1928 1,678,829 Scott et a1 July 31, 1928 1,710,294 Cailloux Apr. 23, 1929 1,780,134 Le Bus Oct. 28, 1930 2,174,077 Bowen Sept. 26, 1939 2,285,838 Rea. June 9, 1942 2,295,630 Bowen Sept. 15, 1942 

